Parts treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A parts treating apparatus consists of a compartmented tank in which a front compartment with an overlying hood structure and a front loading access opening is filled with a liquid which is heated by a submerged heater and agitated by reciprocating paddles. A parts handling structure lowers and raises parts into and out of the heated and agitated liquid which flows over a rear wall into a separator compartment where foreign matter in the liquid settles. A vertically removable weir structure in one end of the separator compartment permits relatively uncontaminated liquid to be removed by a submerged pump and recirculated to a manifold in the treating compartment, the manifold having perforations to direct the liquid generally toward the paddles and deflecting at the fluid surface toward the wall separating the two compartments. The treating compartment has a lid which, when the parts are raised, will open in a fashion to direct fumes and/or steam from the treating compartment away from the access opening. Plumbing for recirculating the liquid also effects selective draining of either or both of the compartments. Liquid losses are replenished automatically by a float system. The pipe from the pump to the treating compartment is arranged with an automatic back flow check loop to interrupt the siphoning of liquid out of the treating compartment.

United States Patent [1 1 Fossati et al.

[451 Nov. 26, 1974 1 PARTS TREATING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Charles G. Fossati, Grosse Pointe Park; Francis B. Dalton, Tecumseh both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Service Tectonics, lnc., Blissfield,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,178

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No 249,881, May 3,

1972, abandoned,

[58] Field of Search 134/56 R, 57 R, 104, 105, 134/108,109,111,140,141,143,l93,194

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,545,979 7/1925 Rosenberg 134/104 1,826,015 10/1931 Morton 1 134/111 2,618,284 11/1952 Purnell 134/194 X 2,677,368 5/1954 Janecek 134/56 R X 2,684,073 7/1954 Gregg 134/105 2,863,465 12/1958 Shoemaker et a1. 134/104 2,967,530 1/1961 Shoemaker et a1, 134/108 X 3,001,532 9/1961 Plassmeyer 134/108 3,503,805 3/1970 Denyes 1. 134/140 X Primary ExaminerRobert L. Bleutge Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hauke, Gifford, Patalidis & Dumont [5 7 ABSTRACT A parts treating apparatus consists of a compartmented tank in which a front compartment with an overlying hood structure and a front loading access opening is filled with a liquid which is heated by a submerged heater and agitated by reciprocating paddles. A parts handling structure lowers and raises parts into and out of the heated and agitated liquid which flows over a rear wall into a separator compartment where foreign matter in the liquid settles. A vertically removable weir structure in one end of the separator compartment permits relatively uncontaminated liquid to be removed by a submerged pump and recirculated to a manifold in the treating compartment, the manifold having perforations to direct the liquid generally toward the paddles and deflecting at the fluid surface toward the wall separating the two compartments. The treating compartment has a lid which, when the parts are raised, will open in a fashion to direct fumes and /or steam from the treating compartment away from the access opening. Plumbing forrecirculating the liquid also effects selective draining of either or both of the compartments. Liquid losses are replenished automatically by a float system. The pipe from the pump to the treating compartment is arranged with an automatic back flow check loop to interrupt the siphoning of liquid out of the treating compartment.

' PATENTEL rmvzemm SHEET 0F 5 P T wnvze 1974 8 O, 1

sum 5 OF 5 PARTS TREATING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior application Ser. No. 249,881 filed May 3, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A. Field of the Invention My invention relates to parts treating apparatus and, more particularly, to a unique single stage paint spray mask coating and washing system in which a liquid is used for coating the masks with a barrier of film by immersing the masks in the liquid in a treating tank, the liquid simultaneously stripping off paint or the like previously deposited on the masks in their use. My invention also includes a separator for removing the paint' contaminant from the liquid, which liquid is recirculated for reuse in washing and recoating the masks.

B. Description of the Prior Art Although many types of part washers and part treating devices are in use, I have found them to be either ineffective for efficient and rapid cleaning of parts in masks for them to be used in high quantity production.

Other equipment accumulates contaminants which become redeposited on the masks, and some types of equipment must be shut down completely whenever they are being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the foregoing problems in a relatively simplified fashion, and facilitates the involvement of a new concept in the effective use of paint spray masks in industry, particularly the industrial decorating industry, by incorporating in a single compact apparatus a liquid tank which is separated by a substantially vertical wall into a forward treating compartment and a rearward separator compartment, and which is provided with a liquid circulating system wherein the liquid, with deposits which have been stripped from parts lowered therein, flows over the separating wall from the forward treating compartment into the rearward separator compartment; then spills over a vertically removable weir located in one end of theseparator compartment; and then flows through a siphon inhibiting back flow check loop delivery conduit back to the treating compartment. Means are provided in the treating compartment to heat and agitate the liquid therein in a fashion which effects the rapid removal of foreign matter, in the present instance being layers of paint or the like, from the parts. The foreign matter is caused to flow over the separating wall with the liquid without having settled to any appreciable degree in the treating compartment. The liquid in the separator compartment, by virtue of the construction provided, is relatively quiescent to facilitate rapid and uninterrupted settlement of the foreign matter to the bottom of the compartment. The recirculating system is arranged to facilitate selective drainage of liquid from the separator compartment without interruption of the cleaning and- /or coating functions of the agitated liquid in the treating compartment, or, alternatively, to drain the liquid from both compartments if desired.

Parts handling means are provided in association with the treating compartment for lowering and raising parts therein and therefrom on demand, and a cover or lid is provided over the liquid holding portion of the treating chamber to open and close respectively as the parts are raised from and lowered into the liquid. On opening, the lid is arranged and operated to deflect any initial sudden discharge of steam and/or vapors from the compartment away from its forward facing access opening so that it will not be expelled into the face of an operator who may be standing in front of the opening. A hood over the treating compartment has an exhaust fan for removal of such vapors and/or steam.

The operating components for the handling means and the agitating means, as well as electrical controls and wiring, pump and plumbing components, and preferably carried exteriorly of the tank in a convenient location for operation and maintenance.

A lid on the rearward separator compartment is readily removable for access to the vertically removable weir and for cleaning out the collected contaminants from the bottom of the separator compartment after it has been substantially drained of liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred apparatus embodying the present invention with certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 partly broken away to illustrate some internal components;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational end view of the apparatus as seen substantially from the left hand side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 4 with a rear compartment lid eliminated for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a preferred agitating means employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of a unique back flow check loop siphon inhibiting system preferably employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified element embodying a feature of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the recirculation and drain system used in the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrating components in several operational positions;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of parts illustrated in FIG. 10, with certain parts of FIGS. 1 through omitted for clarity;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view partly broken away, of a preferred embodiment of the diffusing manifold of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate the complete apparatus generally as comprising a tank divided generally into a front treating compartment 12 and a rear separator compartment 14 separated by a substantially vertical wall 16 running lengthwise from end to end of the tank 10.

The tank 10 is generally constructed with a horizontal bottom wall 18, a vertical front wall 20 which is the front wall of the treating compartment 12, a vertical rear wall 22 which is the rear wall of the separator compartment 14, and vertical end walls 24 and 26 which are the end walls of both compartments 12 and 14.

The side walls 24 and 26, as well as the front wall 20 and the separating wall 16, extend upwardly as shown and are covered by a horizontal top wall 28 to form a hood structure 30 as shown, with an access opening 32 provided in the upper portion of the front wall 20.

The upper side of the separator compartment 14 is preferably closed by a cover 34 when the apparatus is in use, the cover 34 having convenient handles 36 or the like for easy removal. The separating wall 16, extending from the tank bottom wall 18 upward and forming the rear side of the hood 30, has a horizontal opening 38 whose lower edge 38a is spaced below a horizontal plane in which lie the upper edge of the rear tank wall 22 and the lower horizontal edge of the front wall access opening 32 as illustrated best in FIGS. 3 and 4. A quantity of parts treating liquid, which in the present use of the apparatus preferably consists of a paint spray mask washing and coating composition, fills the treating compartment 12 generally to the level indicated at 40 in FIG. 3, and, since in normal usage the liquid is continuously pumped into the treating compartment 12, it will flow over the edge 38a of the horizontal opening 38 into the separator compartment 14, which will be maintained at a level normally somewhat lower than the level of liquid in the treating compartment 12, as indicated at 42 in FIG. 3. A longitudinally extending wire mesh basket 44 as shown in FIG. 3, or alternatively a longitudinally extending sloped spillway element 46 as shown in FIG. 8, is preferably secured to or adjacent the edge 38a of the horizontal opening 38 to receive liquid flowing therethrough from the treating compartment 12 to the separator compartment 14, and acts to reduce turbulence of the liquid, thereby ensuring substantially quiescence of liquid in the separator compartment 14. In addition, the basket 44 when used acts to collect large particles of contaminant or foreign material entrained in the liquid and may be readily removed through the top of the separator compartment 14.

In the treating compartment 12, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shafts 50 are rotatably supported by the end walls 24 and 26 near the front wall 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. A rearwardly extending arm 52 is secured to each shaft near one end thereof as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The arms 52 are connected to actuator rod elements 54 and 56 pivotally secured to the arms 52 by pins 58, the rod 56 extending upwardly for connection to a piston 60 which is linearly reciprocably operated from an air cylinder 62 housed as at 64 on top of the hood 30. Operation of the air cylinder 62 through its piston 60 and the rods 54 and 56 reciprocably rotate the shaft 50, which has sets of paddles 66 ex tending therefrom rearwardly toward the separating wall 16 and are submerged in the liquid as shown to cause a continuous agitation thereof through the treating compartment 12 and generally toward a pair of vertically spaced but interferring zones between the paddles 66 and the separating wall 16, as well as a circulation of the liquid within the compartment 12, for the purpose of achieving effective stripping of a paint or the like from the part, in the present case a spray paint mask, as will be hereinafter described.

A heater 70 is mounted on the end wall 26 of the tank 10 and has heating elements 72 extending horizontally into the treating compartment 12 and totally submerged in the liquid therein to maintain it at a substantially uniform high temperature, the heating elements 72 being disposed intermediate the two sets of paddles 66 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification in which the paddles 66 have angularly displaced vane elements 68 at their edges which will serve to cause liquid movement at angles to that movement produced by the reciprocation of the paddles 66 in order to accentuate the desired agitation and circulation of liquid.

A pump assembly 74 is carried adjacent the end wall 26 and comprises a drive motor 76 for driving a preferably submerged centrifugal pump 78 having, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9, an inlet 78a and an outlet 78b. The inlet 78a is connected by means of a conduit 80 or the like with a substantially lowermost point of the separator compartment 14, as indicated at 82 in FIG. 3. The outlet 78b is connected, by means of a conduit 84 or the like having a selectively operable normally open shutoff valve 86, with a liquid diffusing manifold 88 extending horizontally into the treating compartment 12. The manifold 88 has longitudinally spaced outlet orifices 88a for directing liquid pumped into the diffusing manifold 88 generally upward toward the liquid area most agitated by paddles 66 and rearward toward the separating wall 16 to assist in circulation of liquid toward the upper surface 40 and deflecting at the surface 40, as indicated by flow arrows in FIG. 3, over the edge 38a of the opening 38 from the treating compartment 12 to the separator compartment 14. The end of the manifold 88' disposed exteriorly of the compartment preferably has a normally closed drain plug 90.

A U-shaped weir member 92, shown best in FIGS. 3 and 5, is carried in that end of the separator compartment 14 which is adjacent the opening 82. The weir member 92 has side walls 94 and 96 respectively located adjacent the rear side wall 2 and the separating wall 16 and connected by a base wall 98 which has a top edge 980 at a level lower than the normal liquid level 42 in the separator compartment 14. Contaminants, in the present case being the paint, lacquer or the like which have been stripped off of the pain spray masks and carried with the liquid into the separator compartment 14, will normally settle to the bottom of the compartment 14 since the liquid therein is kept in a substantially quiescent state, and therefore relatively uncontaminated liquid will flow over the top edge 98a of the wall 98 for withdrawal by the pump 74 through the opening 82 in the end wall 26, and thereupon the relatively clean liquid is discharged through the conduit 84 to the manifold 88 for recirculation and reuse in the treating compartment 12 in normal operation.

A drain outlet conduit 100, having a normally closed shut-off valve 102, is connected with the conduit 84 intermediate its shut-off valve 86 and the pump outlet 78b. When it is desired to drain the separator compartment 14 for servicing, the shut-off valve 86 will be closed and the drain valve 102 opened, and the pump will thereupon draw the liquid from the separator compartment 14 and discharge it through the conduit 100, which is adapted-for connection with a discharge hose or the like (not shown), so that the liquid may be collected in any suitable drum (not shown) for additional settling if desired and/or reuse, Meanwhile, accumulations of contaminant in the bottom of the compartment 14 may be removed and the compartment 14 cleaned. The liquid in the treating compartment 12 is still agitated and the apparatus may continue to be used for treating parts even while the separator compartment 14 is being cleaned or otherwise serviced. When servicing is finished, the valve 102 will be closed and the compartment l4 refilled to its desired level 42 with the liquid previously pumped out and any necessary fresh treating liquid. After it has become heated a sufficient degree to heat transfer through the separating wall 16, the valve 86 may be opened and normal circulation to the treating compartment 12 will occur.

84a, is higher than the maximum liquid level 40 in the treating compartment 12. An elbow-shaped conduit 110 is openly connected to the high point 84a of the conduit 84, and is arranged to pass through the end wall 26 and be open at an inner downward facing end 110a to a point below the normal liquid level 40. The size of the elbow 110 is relatively small so that in normal operation, with liquid being pumped through the conduit 84 into the treating compartment 12, only a small amount will bypass through the elbow 110 without being directed into the manifold 88.

However, under conditions which would otherwise cause siphoning of liquid from the treating compartment 12 in the manner heretofore described, as soon as the liquid level 40 decreases to below the elbow opening 110a, air will be admitted through the elbow 110 to the high point 84a of the conduit 84, thus positively in- Another conduit 104 or the like, having a normally closed shut-off valve 106, connects the manifold 88 with the conduit 80 leading to the intake 78a of the pump 78. If it is desired to drain the treating compartment 12, as well as the compartment 14, the shut-off valve 86 will be closed, the shut-off valves 102 and 106 opened, and the pump can thereupon pump the liquid from the treating compartment 12 out the discharge conduit 100.

When the pump 78 is shut down or is for any reason inoperative and the valve 86 in the recirculating conduit 84 is open, liquid in the tank, tending to seek a common level between the two compartments l2 and 14, would ordinarily siphon from the higher level compartment to the lower through the conduit 84. Normally, the liquid level in the separator compartment is lower than the level in the treating compartment 12, so that the liquid would tend to drain from the latter. Then, when the system is started up again, large volumes of relatively unheated liqnid might be pumped into the treating compartment 12 and lower the general temperature, possibly to a point where effective use of the liquid would be inhibited. Even more serious, if the submerged heating elements 72 happened to be unsubmerged while still operating, they might well be caused to burn out.

Although a check valve in the conduit 84 could be used to prevent reverse flow therethrough, check valves are not only rather expensive for what they accomplish but would also tend to get clogged and become inoperative in many uses of the present recirculation system. Therefore, I have incorporated a back flow check loop system in which the conduit 84 is formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 with an elevated U-shaped of V-shaped configuration in which the high point, as at terrupting the siphoning action. Moreover, even if the liquid level should rise again in the treating compartment 12, for example by introduction of make-up liquid as will be described, the ai bubble in the high portion 84a would still prevent siphoning. The air, of course, would immediately be forced out as soon as the pump 78 were to become operative with the valve 86 being opened.

It will be seen in FIG. 7 that the end of the elbow disposed in the treating compartment 12 diverges toward the opening 110a. This is provided so that, if this portion of the elbow 110 should become clogged with paint or other contaminant material, a plug 1 12 located axially in line with the elbow 110 on the opposite side of the conduit 84 may be removed and the elbow 110 cleared by driving a rod or the like therethrough from the plug 112 opening.

In normal operation, the total volume of liquid in the tank 10 will decrease due to evaporation losses, and the liquid so lost needs to be replaced, even though the level in the treating compartment 12 will remain at the high point 40 indicated in FIG. 3. For make-up purposes, an ordinary float 114 is provided within an enclosure 116 secured in an end of the separator compartment 14 as indicated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. The float 114 operates through an arm 117 to actuate a liquid inlet valve 118 connected, in the present instance, to a water supply source (not shown), and having an outlet tap conduit 120 or the like opening into the treating compartment 12, so that when liquid level in the compartment 14 drops below the float 114, it will operate to open the valve 118 and refill the tank with water directed into the treating compartment 12, thereby additionally ensuring that the liquid level therein will be maintained at its maximum.

Parts to be treated, such as a spray paint mask 122 shown in FIG. 1, are arranged to be lowered into and raised from the liquid in the treating compartment 12 by means of suitable handling equipment which comprises a rack 124 as in FIG. 1 or a multiple rack hanger assembly 126 as in FIG. 3, or other suitable carrying device, which generally extends lengthwise of the treating compartment 12, being carried on a pair of substantially vertically extending tubes 128 which telescopically slide on upstanding rods 130 supported between the bottom 18 of the tank 10 and the top wall 28 of the hood structure 30. The upper ends of the tubes 128 are connected to the forward runs of closed chain loops 132 extending around lower idler sprockets 134 rotatably carried on the end walls 24 and 26 and upper sprockets 136 secured to a rotatable shaft 138 which extends through the end wall 24 and has an exterior drive sprocket 140 rotated by a closed loop chain running around a lower sprocket 144 and connected as shown in FIG. 4 to the outer end of a piston rod 146 selectively reciprocably moved, in the directions indicated with a double-headed arrow 148, by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 150.

The parts are loaded on the rack 124 or assembly 126, or on any other carrier provided, through the access opening 32 in the front wall of the treating chamber 12, and are lowered into the liquid containing portion thereof intermediate the paddles 66 and the separating wall 16 in position to be subjected to maximum liquid agitation.

A vertical screen 152, shown in FIG. 3, is preferably carried in the treating compartment 12 adjacent the paddles 66 and operating rods 54 and 56 to prevent accidental contact of the reciprocating components with the parts of their handling equipment.

A lid structure 160 having an upturned inner side 160a, omitted from FIGS. 1 through 4 for clarity but shown in various operating positions in FIG. 10, is pivotally carried as by pins 161 extending from blocks 163 (one thereof being illustrated in FIG. 11) on the upper ends of the tubes 128 so that, when the parts are lowered into the liquid in the treating compartment 12, the front edge of the lid structure 160 will engage a horizontal shelf member 165 (omitted from FIGS. 1-4 for clarity) and take the position indicated in full lines, substantially covering the liquid and reducing the es cape of steam and vapors.

As the tubes 128 are raised to remove the rack or other handling device with the parts from the liquid, the lid structure 160 will be raised also and tip forward under forces of gravity to the intermediate position illustrated by phantom lines, thereby directing vapors toward the rear side or innermost upwardly inclined side of the lid structure 160 and into the inner area of the hood where they rise and are exhausted by an exhaust fan 162 carried within a stack 164 mounted on the top wall 28 of the hood 30, thereby avoiding any sudden discharge of steam and vapors through the access opening 32 in the front wall 20 of the treating compartment 12. The blocks 163 shown in FIG. 11 are formed to limit tipping of the lid further than as shown.

When the tubes 128 are lifted completely, the rear edge of the lid structure 160 will engage bumpers 167 secured to the inner surface of the hood 30 and the front edge will thereupon be lifted upward to provide full access to the parts carried on the rack 124 or the like. In this position, vapors and steam will still be withdrawn by the exhaust fan 162 around the edges of the lid structure 160.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate, in an enlarged view, a preferred embodiment of the liquid diffusing manifold 88 of the invention, the view being limited to the left (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9) end of the manifold. A ring 170 is secured to the end of conduit 88, as by threads 172. A diffusing plate 174 is positioned across, but spaced from, the open end of the manifold 88, the plate 174 being secured to ring 170 by a number of rods 176, the rods being secured to the plate 174 and ring 170 i any suitable manner, such as by welds 178.

We have found that of the paint contaminants which fail to be retained in the separator compartment 14,

some are in the form of films which do not pass through holes 88a. These tend to accumulate in the closed end of the diffusing manifold, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, and may eventually block off one or more of the holes 88a. Use of thediffusing manifold of FIGS. 12 and 13 avoids this problem by permitting some of the liquid entering treatment compartment 12 to pass through the gap between the diffusing plate 174 and ring 170. The gap, because of its large dimension transverse to the axis of the manifold, can accommodate the movement therethrough of relatively large pieces of paint film; but, because of its small dimension (about 3/ l 6 inch for example) in the axial direction of the manifold, does not significantly alter the flow of liquid through the holes 88a.

In the use of the present apparatus for which it was particularly developed, numerous advantages are achieved by virtue of the structure hereinbefore described and illustrated. Due to the unique recirculation system, a full supply of relatively uncontaminated paint spray mask washing and coating composition is constantly maintained in the treating or washing compartment 12 at a substantially constant elevated temperature. The liquid is agitated to assist in the stripping of paint or the like from the masks, and the liquid circulation causes the stripped off paint to rise to the top surface 40 and be skimmed off over the edge 38a of the horizontal opening 38 to flow into the quiescently maintained area of the separator compartment 14. Here it will coagulate into high density particles and be permitted to settle and accumulate in the bottom of the separator compartment 14, with relatively uncontaminated liquid being recirculated for reuse in the treating comartment 12. Thus, relatively little of the liquid ever needs to be replaced. Further, the treating compartment 1-2 will remain full or heated liquid during cleanout operations performed in the separator compartment 14, as well as during normal shut-down of the pump. After the separator compartment 14 is cleaned, it can be refilled with the wash liquid, and recirculation will conveniently be postponed until the liquid therein has become heated by heat transfer through the separating wall 16, so that at no time are any large volumes of cold liquid necessarily recirculated into the treating compartment 12 to lower the temperature thereof beyond that which is efficient for proper washing and coatihg purposes.

Although I have described and illustrated only a few embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

.1. A parts treating apparatus comprising a treating liquid containing tank having a treating compartment and a separator compartment, said compartments separated by a substantially vertical wall having a top edge over which liquid flows from the treating compartment to the separator compartment;

means agitating said liquid in said treating compartment only, and means ensuring substantial quiescence of the liquid in said separator compartment for settlement of foreign matter to a lower portion thereof;

from a level above settled foreign matter in said separator compartment into said treating compartment and draining liquid from either or both of said compartments;

. means automatically maintaining a selected liquid volume in said tank; and

handling means arranged for lowering and raising parts to be treated into and out of said treating compartment and restricting same from interference with said agitating means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separator compartment includes a vertical weir dividing said separator compartment into a settling chamber into which liquid flows from said treating compartment and an outlet chamber into which liquid flows over said weir from a level of said settling chamber above settled forments from a shaft rotatably supported by said end walls,said shaft having a radially extending arm, and wherein said actuator means comprises a substantially linearly reciprocable rod extending out of said tank,

eign matter, and wherein said recirculating and draining means includes an outlet means connected with a lowermost portion of said outlet chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said separator compartment has a substantially horizontal bottom wall, a pair of spaced substantially vertical side walls one of which forms said separating wall, and substantially vertical spaced end walls spacing said side walls, and wherein said weir comprises a U-shaped member supported within said separator compartment, said member having spaced side walls disposed adjacent portions of the respective separator compartment side walls and extending from one end wall and having a substantially vertical base wall connecting ends of said weir side walls remote from said one end wall and being of less vertical height than said separating wall, and said U-shaped member being selectively vertically removable from said separator compartment to open same as a whole to said outlet means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating wall has a substantially horizontal top edge and said means ensuring substantial quiescence comprises an upper portion sloping toward said separator compartment to reduce agitation of liquid as it flows thereto over said top edge.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating wall has a substantially horizontal top edge and wherein means ensuring substantial quiescence of liquid in said separator compartment comprises a wire mesh basket therein adjacent the separating wall to receive liquid flowing thereover from said treating compartment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said treating compartment has a bottom wall, a pair of spaced substantially vertical side walls one of which forms said separating wall, and substantially vertical spaced end walls spacing said side walls; said agitating means is located near the other of said side walls; and said holding means is constructed and arranged to lower parts into a space intermediate said agitating means and said separating wall;

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said agitating means includes paddle elements reciprocably rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis extending normal to said end walls.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and including actuator means disposed exteriorly of said tank and mechanically connected with said paddle elements to effect re ciprocation thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said paddle elements extend toward said wall dividing said compartsaid rod connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to a reciprocation motor device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said paddle elements comprise a row of substantially flat plates extending from a horizontal rotatable shaft toward said separating wall, at least some of said pates having vane elements arranged to cause liquid movement at angles to liquid movement produced otherwise by paddle reciprocation.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said agitating means includes plural sets of vertically spaced paddle elements, each set reciprocably rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis extending normal to said end walls.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 and including actuator means disposed exteriorly of said tank and mechanically connected with said paddle elements to effect reciprocation thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said paddle elements extends toward said separating wall from a shaft rotatably supported by said end walls, each shaft having a radially extending arm, and wherein said actuator means comprises a substantially linearly reciprocable rod extending out of said tank, said rod connected at one end to said arms and at the other end to a reciprocation motor device.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 and including fluid heating means having a heating element extending substantially horizontally on an axis substantially parallel to and intermediate the axes of said sets of paddle elements.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means recirculating liquid includes an intake manifold extending substantially horizontally from and normal to one end wall toward the other end wall and having outlet openings arranged to introduce liquid into said treating compartment generally toward said agitating means and said separating wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said manifold has an open end and a plate positioned across, but spaced from, said open end to provide a relatively narrow gap for the flow of liquid therethrough.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said manifold is disposed vertically beneath said agitating means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said agitating means includes paddle elements extending toward said separating wall from a shaft rotatably supported by said end walls on an axis parallel to said manifold, said paddle elements arranged along said shaft substantially coextensive with said manifold.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recirculating and draining means comprises a liquid pump having an intake and an outlet, first conduit means connecting said inlet with said separator compartment, second conduit means connecting said outlet with said treating compartment and having a first selectively operable shut-off valve therein, and third conduit means having a discharge end and an intake end connected with said second conduit means intermediate its valve and its connection with said pump outlet, said third conduit means having a selectively operable shut-off valve therein.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 including a fourth conduit means connecting said pump inlet with said second conduit means intermediate its valve and its connection with said treating compartment, and said fourth conduit means having a selectively operable shut-off valve therein.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recirculating and draining means comprises a liquid pump having an intake and an outlet, first conduit means connecting said inlet with a substantially lowermost portion of said separator compartment, and second conduit means connecting said outlet with said treating compartment below its normal fluid level, a portion of said second conduit means being disposed at a higher level than its connection with said treating compartment and having I nected with said float and a discharge outlet disposed in said treating compartment.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said treating compartment hasa substantially vertical front side wall, a higher substantially vertical rear side wall spaced therefrom and having a horizontal opening therein such that the portion of said rear wall below said opening forms said separating wall, substantially vertical spaced end walls spacing said front and rear side walls, and a hood extending from the upper edges of said rear side and end walls to overlie said treating compartment and form an access opening between the means automatically inhibiting the siphoning of liquid between said compartments upon a predetermined lowering of liquid level in said treating compartment.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said inhibiting means comprises a siphon interrupt conduit extending from said second conduit higher portion into said treating compartment and open to same at a point slightly below the top edge of said separating wall.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said second conduit higher potion is higher than the top edge of said separating wall.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said siphon interrupt conduit is bent downwardly at its open end to a point below the top edge of said separating wall.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid volume maintaining means comprises a float in said separator compartment and a liquid filling means automatically operated upon a predetermined lowering of float level to replenish liquid in said tank.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said filling means comprises a tap having a valve operably conupper edge of said front side wall and said hood, and wherein said handling means comprises a vertically movable structure arranged to carry parts between a space adjacent said access opening and the liquid below said horizontal opening.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 including a raisable lid covering the space of said treating compartment below said access opening.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 including means to automatically raise and lower said lid when said handling means structure respectively carries parts up out of and down into said liquid.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 including means operating said lid on raising to divert fumes from said liquid toward said rear wall and away from said accessopening.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 and including fluid heating means having a heating element disposed completely within said treating compartment below the top edge of said separating wall.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said heating element extends substantially horizontally on an axis substantially parallel to and spaced from said separating wall.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Paten No, 3,850,184 at d Nov. 26, 1974 Inventor(s) Charles G. Fossati, et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 5, line 52,' change "liquid" to --liquid--; Col. 8, line 37, change "or" to -of--;

line 48, change "coatihg" to -c0ating-;

Col. 11, line 26, change "potion" to --portion-;

Col. 10, line 31, change "10" t '11--.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of March 1975 (SEAL) Attest: v

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 7 and Trademarks 

1. A parts treating apparatus comprising a treating liquid containing tank having a treating compartment and a separator compartment, said compartments separated by a substantially vertical wall having a top edge over which liquid flows from the treating compartment to the separator compartment; means agitating said liquid in said treating compartment only, and means ensuring substantial quiescence of the liquid in said separator compartment for settlement of foreign matter to a lower portion thereof; means selectively alternatively recirculating liquid from a level above settled foreign matter in said separator compartment into said treating compartment and draining liquid from either or both of said compartments; means automatically maintaining a selected liquid volume in said tank; and handling means arranged for lowering and raising parts to be treated into and out of said treating compartment and restricting same from interference with said agitating means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separator compartment includes a vertical weir dividing said separator compartment into a settling chamber into which liquid flows from said treating compartment and an outlet chamber into which liquid flows over said weir from a level of said settling chamber above settled foreign matter, and wherein said recirculating and draining means includes an outlet means connected with a lowermost portion of said outlet chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said separator compartment has a substantially horizontal bottom wall, a pair of spaced substantially vertical side walls one of which forms said separating wall, and substantially vertical spaced end walls spacing said side walls, and wherein said weir comprises a U-shaped member supported within said separator compartment, said member having spaced side walls disposed adjacent portions of the respective separator compartment side walls and extending from one end wall and having a substantially vertical base wall connecting ends of said weir side walls remote from said one end wall and being of less vertical height than said separating wall, and said U-shaped member being selectively vertically removable from said separator compartment to open same as a whole to said outlet means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating wall has a substantially horizontal top edge and said means ensuring substantial quiescence comprises an upper portion sloping toward said separator compartment to reduce agitation of liquid as it flows thereto over said top edge.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating wall has a substantially horizontal top edge and wherein means ensuring substantial quiescence of liquid in said separator compartment comprises a wire mesh basket therein adjacent the separating wall to receive liquid flowing thereover from said treating compartment.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said treating compartment has a bottom wall, a pair of spaced substantially vertical side walls one of which forms said separating wall, and substantially vertical spaced end walls spacing said side walls; said agitating means is located near the other of said side walls; and said holding means is constructed and arranged to lower parts into a space intermediate said agitating means and said separating wall.
 7. The aPparatus of claim 6 wherein said agitating means includes paddle elements reciprocably rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis extending normal to said end walls.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 and including actuator means disposed exteriorly of said tank and mechanically connected with said paddle elements to effect reciprocation thereof.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said paddle elements extend toward said wall dividing said compartments from a shaft rotatably supported by said end walls, said shaft having a radially extending arm, and wherein said actuator means comprises a substantially linearly reciprocable rod extending out of said tank, said rod connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to a reciprocation motor device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said paddle elements comprise a row of substantially flat plates extending from a horizontal rotatable shaft toward said separating wall, at least some of said plates having vane elements arranged to cause liquid movement at angles to liquid movement produced otherwise by paddle reciprocation.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said agitating means includes plural sets of vertically spaced paddle elements, each set reciprocably rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis extending normal to said end walls.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 and including actuator means disposed exteriorly of said tank and mechanically connected with said paddle elements to effect reciprocation thereof.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said paddle elements extends toward said separating wall from a shaft rotatably supported by said end walls, each shaft having a radially extending arm, and wherein said actuator means comprises a substantially linearly reciprocable rod extending out of said tank, said rod connected at one end to said arms and at the other end to a reciprocation motor device.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10 and including fluid heating means having a heating element extending substantially horizontally on an axis substantially parallel to and intermediate the axes of said sets of paddle elements.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means recirculating liquid includes an intake manifold extending substantially horizontally from and normal to one end wall toward the other end wall and having outlet openings arranged to introduce liquid into said treating compartment generally toward said agitating means and said separating wall.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said manifold has an open end and a plate positioned across, but spaced from, said open end to provide a relatively narrow gap for the flow of liquid therethrough.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said manifold is disposed vertically beneath said agitating means.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said agitating means includes paddle elements extending toward said separating wall from a shaft rotatably supported by said end walls on an axis parallel to said manifold, said paddle elements arranged along said shaft substantially coextensive with said manifold.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recirculating and draining means comprises a liquid pump having an intake and an outlet, first conduit means connecting said inlet with said separator compartment, second conduit means connecting said outlet with said treating compartment and having a first selectively operable shut-off valve therein, and third conduit means having a discharge end and an intake end connected with said second conduit means intermediate its valve and its connection with said pump outlet, said third conduit means having a selectively operable shut-off valve therein.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 including a fourth conduit means connecting said pump inlet with said second conduit means intermediate its valve and its connection with said treating compartment, and said fourth conduit means having a selectively operable shut-off valve therein.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recirculating and draining mEans comprises a liquid pump having an intake and an outlet, first conduit means connecting said inlet with a substantially lowermost portion of said separator compartment, and second conduit means connecting said outlet with said treating compartment below its normal fluid level, a portion of said second conduit means being disposed at a higher level than its connection with said treating compartment and having means automatically inhibiting the siphoning of liquid between said compartments upon a predetermined lowering of liquid level in said treating compartment.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said inhibiting means comprises a siphon interrupt conduit extending from said second conduit higher portion into said treating compartment and open to same at a point slightly below the top edge of said separating wall.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said second conduit higher portion is higher than the top edge of said separating wall.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said siphon interrupt conduit is bent downwardly at its open end to a point below the top edge of said separating wall.
 25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid volume maintaining means comprises a float in said separator compartment and a liquid filling means automatically operated upon a predetermined lowering of float level to replenish liquid in said tank.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said filling means comprises a tap having a valve operably connected with said float and a discharge outlet disposed in said treating compartment.
 27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said treating compartment has a substantially vertical front side wall, a higher substantially vertical rear side wall spaced therefrom and having a horizontal opening therein such that the portion of said rear wall below said opening forms said separating wall, substantially vertical spaced end walls spacing said front and rear side walls, and a hood extending from the upper edges of said rear side and end walls to overlie said treating compartment and form an access opening between the upper edge of said front side wall and said hood, and wherein said handling means comprises a vertically movable structure arranged to carry parts between a space adjacent said access opening and the liquid below said horizontal opening.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27 including a raisable lid covering the space of said treating compartment below said access opening.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27 including means to automatically raise and lower said lid when said handling means structure respectively carries parts up out of and down into said liquid.
 30. The apparatus of claim 29 including means operating said lid on raising to divert fumes from said liquid toward said rear wall and away from said access opening.
 31. The apparatus of claim 1 and including fluid heating means having a heating element disposed completely within said treating compartment below the top edge of said separating wall.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said heating element extends substantially horizontally on an axis substantially parallel to and spaced from said separating wall. 